Summary: To fulfill the mission from God that He has given us, we have responsibilities that are essential to our being successful. Jesus not only talked about these, but He exampled them for us to follow. One of those responsibilities is for us to serve others.

As we approach the time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I thought it would be good in these weeks to discuss what it is that our God has called us to do, because whether you know it or not, every one of us who are Christians are on a Mission from God. That mission is to Make Disciples, Baptize Disciples and Teach Disciples to obey all things that Christ has given us in His word.

Sacrifice

Last week we talked about one of the ways that we can be used to help fulfill that mission, and that is through the Sacrifices we are all called to make as a follower of Christ so that others can come to know Him for now and for eternity.

We talked specifically about our financial sacrifices.

Much of our congregation made financial sacrifice and commitments last year to be given over a 2 year period. We want to encourage those who have not had the opportunity to join with those of us who have already made commitments, to do so over the remaining 13 months. Be praying about how you could sacrifice to help move forward on our mission from God.

Transition

Now today we are going to talk about another way that each of us as individuals can band together as the body of Christ here to help accomplish this Mission from God and that is through our Service.

I want to ask you, when I say the word servant, what image pops into your head?

Do you think of someone who serves a rich person, perhaps wearing a uniform, maybe a maid or a butler?

You probably are not picturing

A CEO

Or someone elegantly dressed.

Often when we think of a servant, we think of a position that is

Lower class

Maybe for someone without a lot of education

Who has little or no authority.

Being a servant is not typically thought of as being a position of much authority or of greatness.

But Jesus tells us something different.

He tells us in Matthew 23:11 - The greatest among you will be your servant.

Not the lowly, not the least educated, not even the best dressed, but the greatest among you will be your servants.

He wants us to serve. He not only wants us to serve, but He sets for us an example in serving that if we follow will help us fulfill our mission from God and be blessed by Him.

13 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me ’Teacher’ and ’Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

To fulfill the mission from God that He has given us, we have responsibilities that are essential to our being successful. Jesus not only talked about these, but He exampled them for us to follow. One of those responsibilities is for us to serve others.